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Stay safe on the road this spring

Posted
Sunday, April 7, 2019 8:00 am

A traffic accident can spoil a fun day out.
As the days get longer and warmer, more folks are getting behind the wheel. For the most part, the weather has dried up and trees and flowers are beginning to bloom. Which means folks who have been stuck in the house all winter are out moving around.
That's good. Our area has so much to offer, from city, county and state parks to fun venues and shopping areas both new and old.
We encourage everyone on the roads to pay close attention to your surroundings. There are more folks out and about, but there are also traffic cones and workers along the roads. Crews are out patching holes and fixing problems, like those on Veterans Drive. Others, like those on Washington Avenue, are doing maintenance work on utilities in preparation for new paving this summer. City workers don't want to have to rip up that beautiful new asphalt to fix a water line.
Folks need to be aware of the traffic in these areas and be courteous to other drivers. No matter how much of a hurry you're in, an accident will only make you later. Drivers also also need to be kind to the workers. Tennessee has a 'move over' law that's designed to protect emergency personnel and utility workers. Basically, if you don't move over and slow down, you could face a fine of up to $500 and up to 30 days in jail.
There's at least one good thing drivers in Putnam County should celebrate. Traffic fatalities are half what they were last year. At this time in 2018, six people had died on Putnam County roads. This year, there have been three.
We encourage everyone traveling Putnam County streets to be cautious, be polite and keep it under the speed limit. It's not worth your life.